Driving routes, planning, South Africa
 

HI All,
I know it's a ways off, Sept 2009 that is, but we have just gotten plane flights (using frequent flyer miles) for out Sept safari. Starting in Kruger, camp Letaba, then over to Kings Camps and Kirkmans. (Actually really starting in California).

Of course we're flying into JNB, rent/hire a car and drive. We have driven from JNB to Kruger twice before but those drives were with staying a night or two along the way. This time I want to drive from JNB to camp Letaba the same day. And realize that have to be in Letaba by 6pm. This seems reasonable, appears to me to be about 550km from JNB to Phalaborwa and Kruger Phalaborwa gate. Around 6-7 hours drive. You agree???

Now, I used http://www.shellgeostar.co.za/
to find this distance/time and the recommended route. But this Shell site writes out driving directions that are not clear to me. And no maps. Perhaps the Shell site is having problems or it's just me :-). Are there any other drive planning/map web sites that you like? I do have a road map of SA which probably has enough road detail but I'd like more.

I realize that I may be starting rather early (6 months ahead) to figure this out but if I have to make any changes to flights or Kruger dates, the sooner the better. Besides, fun thinking that the safari is close enough to work on trip details :-). Thanks anyone.

regards - tom

Hi Tom!
I have used www.routes.co.za and found it quite helpful when planning our self-drives.
Robin

http://www.de.map24.com/

I was quite pleased when I searched for also rural routes here. It also provides you with "flying" features etc.

SV

SV - that de.map24 is very good. Many thanks. Easy to use. You can zoom in to view individual streets like around in and out of JNB itself. Here's an example showing the rental/hire car companies and the streets out to major highways.
http://tinyurl.com/ajs6f6

You can view maps as traditional lines, or as lines on a satellite photo or just by satellite. The "route flight" is neat and new to me. It shows you traveling along the route map, you can see every turn off you take and pause to zoom in for more detail.

All very good. A few pages of map details from this plus a regular large road map should work fine.

But still trying to decide if we can drive from JNB to Kruger camp Letaba comfortably in one day (arriving by 6pm).

Thanks again SV.

regards - tom

Pleasure Tom!

I particularly enjoy the route flight when I long for some destinations which is mostly somewhere in Africa.

Glad you appreciate it!

SV

The S.A. address for Map24 is http://www.za.map24.com/. Doesn't seem to work using my usual Firefox, but OK with IE.

Tom, I've used the Shell Geostar site quite a lot. It's certainly not without faults, but seemingly improved of late. Once you've entered the start and finish, you get a large-scale overall map on the resultant page. If you want detailed maps, click on the "+" icon next to any stage description, and you'll see a map for that stage.

Thanks ArthurSA, I'll try Shell again.

za.map24 works good for me with Firefox 2.0 It can be slow sometimes and it doesn't always tell you it is working on your request. Did you first click on the little Africa map top right?

A friend mentioned to me try Michelin. And I will tomorrow.

regards - tom